Five Peaks in the Pentland Hills

If you fancy getting out for a walk in Scotland, you don’t have to head to the Highlands to get up into the hills. On the edge of Edinburgh are fabulous the Pentland Hills. Here is how to climb all the hills in the Pentlands.

The Pentland Hills – one of the best walks in Edinburgh

Ask an Edinburgh local where they head on a Sunday for a walk, and thePentland Hills Regional Parkwill be high on the list. There are lots of low-level Pentland Hills walks to explore, including reservoir rambles and moorland strolls which are great for a dog walk. My favourite walks are the Capital View Walk(and Swanston) and the Water Walk aroundTorduff Reservoir. However, for something a little more strenuous, getting up into the Pentland Hills themselves is a brilliant day out – with wonderful views across to Edinburgh.

How to climb the Five Peaks – Scald Law and the Pentland Hills walk

The Pentland Hills including the highest of the hills, Scald Law, can be walked in a 10-mile circular which also takes in Turnhouse Hill, Carnethy Hill, Scald Law and East and West Kip. This Pentland Hills walk will take around 5 hours and gives a fantastic day in the hills – and just outside Edinburgh.

Walk start: The Regional Park car park behind the Flotterstone Inn. You can get to the Pentland Hills by bus from Edinburgh.

The route starts with a climb up over Turnhouse Hill (506m) and then Carnethy Hill (573m) which give great views back over the reservoirs, Edinburgh, and Midlothian.

The path then rises up to Scald Law, the highest hill in the Pentland range at 579m.

After you have taken a summit selfie it’s time to tackle East and West Kip, the shapeliest and steepest hills in the range. West Kip is often described as the Pentland’s best hill – and approaching it from the east you avoid the very steep west side ascent – honestly, even for an experienced hill walker, it is a bit of a puff!

The walk returns alongside Loganlee and Glencourse reservoirs to complete the 10-mile loop.

Map of the Pentland Hills route

The full route of the Five Peaks is a combination of this walk and this walk from Walkhighlands.